RFP: Re-advertisement for Biosolids removal and Disposal from Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Brunswick County is soliciting proposals for removal and disposal of its wastewater biosolids from two of its five (5) existing wastewater treatment facilities (“WWTF”), as more fully set forth herein.

Brunswick County produced approximately 9.6 million gallons of liquid biosolids in calendar year 2024. Brunswick County is seeking a contractor to provide removal and disposal of the biosolids product at multiple permitted land application sites approved for such application in Brunswick County’s name and/or other sites as may be permitted by the selected contractor.  It is the intention of Brunswick County to contract with one contractor, but it shall reserve the right to use additional contractors as needed in its sole and absolute discretion to meet the demands for biosolids disposal.

Brunswick County Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Northeast Brunswick Regional (NC0086819 ) - Located in the town of Navassa and has an annual biosolids production rate of approximately 3.5 million gallons of Class A material. There is also an associated Class B permit for the facility. The biosolids storage capacity at this facility is approximately 670K gallons and can be pumped out via a jet transfer pump.

West Brunswick Regional (WQ0023693) - Located in Supply and has an annual biosolids production rate of approximately 6.064 million gallons of Class A biosolids. There is also an associated Class B permit for the facility. The biosolids storage capacity at this facility is approximately 450K gallons and can be pumped out via a jet transfer pump.

SCOPE OF WORK

Brunswick County has established the following objectives for this project.  Any changes to the specifications or Scope of Work will be made in the form of an Addendum to this Request for Proposals and will be supplied to all known prospective contractors and posted on the Brunswick County website. Notwithstanding the foregoing, contractors will be responsible for ensuring that they have all addenda. Brunswick County may negotiate and refine the final Scope of Work with the selected contractor.  Brunswick County reserves the right to negotiate additional services with the selected contractor at any time after the initial contract award.

The selected contractor will be responsible for the removal of wastewater biosolids at the designated facilities and transport of wastewater biosolids to either existing Brunswick County permitted NC DWR land application sites and/or additional sites as permitted by the selected contractor. Evaluation of the proposals will take into consideration additional permitted sites to which the contractor has access.  The current Brunswick County NC DWR permits are attached for reference: WQ0034468 for Class A and WQ0034513 for Class B. The County will supply the contractor with contact information for each landowner and available acreages for each site. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to establish an agreement with each individual landowner prior to disposal. If the contractor is unable to reach an agreement with the landowner to dispose of biosolids it will be the contractor’s responsibility to secure (at its own cost) equal capacity (acres) as to continue operations at currently permitted tonnages. The contractor is solely responsible for ensuring that land application methods and land application rates are in conformance with applicable NC DWR Permits and Regulations. The contractor will also be responsible for supplying both the Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) and Back-Up ORC for all disposal operations and completion of the annual reports for signature by County.

The County will be responsible for performing the required TCLP/RCI on the wastewater biosolids from each facility. Copies of the results will be provided to the contractor.

The contractor shall provide the County a seventy-two (72)-hour response time from notification of anticipated biosolids removal. This would entail having equipment on-site and proceeding with stabilization (if necessary) and or removal of biosolids within seventy-two (72) hours of notification by County personnel.   Failure of the contractor to proceed with stabilization and/or removal of biosolids within seventy-two (72) hours of notification by County may result in the utilization of an alternate provider, as determined by Brunswick County in its sole and absolute discretion.

The contractor shall be responsible for all equipment and chemicals needed to stabilize Class B biosolids for transportation and disposal in conformance with NC DWR regulations. If the contractor elects to stabilize Class A biosolids, the contractor will also be responsible for all equipment and chemicals necessary to stabilize the biosolids.

Both the Northeast Brunswick Regional and West Brunswick Regional facilities utilize Auto Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion (ATAD) as means for stabilization. Mechanical dewatering, if utilized, may be more complex than with traditional aerobically digested biosolids.

Currently, the biosolids generated at the Carolina Shores, Sea Trail, and Ocean Isle Beach facilities are transferred via pumping to the West Brunswick Regional WWTF for treatment and disposal as a Class A or B material. Proposal price should also reflect stabilization and hauling from these facilities (Carolina Shores, Sea Trail, and Ocean Isle Beach facilities) should transfer via pumping become unavailable, as a Class B biosolid.

The contractor shall provide a plan of contingency capabilities for the contractor to provide services. In the event of natural disasters, emergency operations, etc., contractor should provide a list of alternative removal capabilities in the event land application sites are unusable. This should include a comprehensive plan to include the method of removal/disposal i.e., dewatering, press, etc. to be utilized. A contingency plan may involve contractor subcontracting with another entity (subject to Brunswick County’s prior approval); however, it shall NOT involve Brunswick County contracting with another entity.   Contingency pricing will be evaluated as part of the overall proposal evaluation.

The contractor will provide a monthly report of biosolids removed from each facility. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to contact appropriate plant personnel (Superintendent or Chief Operators) to confirm biosolids volumes leaving each site. A daily logbook will be maintained at each site for County and contractor personnel to utilize. County personnel will assist contractor in the administration of laboratory testing for pH control (if needed). County will provide contractor laboratory data of biosolids analysis prior to first removal.  Additional data/sampling results required to meet Class A criteria (if applicable) will also be provided.

The method of calculating the volume of gallons hauled from a plant shall be either a calibrated meter on the discharge line from the biosolids holding tank or volume removed from the tank. A determination of the tank volume (based upon dimensional volume calculations) will be agreed upon prior to first haul. If using the volume method, the initial volume in tank and post haul volume readings will be recorded and verified by both owner and contractor. It will be contractor’s responsibility to ensure appropriate plant personnel verify these readings. Billing will be made directly from the volumes determined to have been removed.

The contractor will be required to perform their duties within normal plant operational hours. These hours are 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET Monday-Friday. Arrangements may be made to haul outside of normal business hours by prior approval of the Wastewater Superintendent. In the event of an emergency, plant personnel will be made available to assist contractor with access to each site. An emergency would be deemed only after contact and agreement by the Wastewater Superintendent or Chief Operator of the respective facility. No contractor will be allowed on-site without a County personnel escort.

The contractor will be responsible for any fines imposed by NC DWR related to improper operation of their equipment, disposal methods, etc. Contractor will also be responsible for the clean up of any associated liquid spill, bag/trash removal, and general policing of area after biosolids removal. Brunswick County will only pay costs that have been agreed upon in the  awarded contract.

Any changes to the specifications or the above Scope of Work will be made in the form of an Addendum to this Request for Proposals and will be supplied to all known prospective contractors and posted on the County’s website.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• The proposal title and due date and time.
• A cover letter/letter of intent on contractor’s letterhead, signed by an authorized representative of contractor, expressly agreeing to Brunswick County’s terms and conditions contained in this Request for Proposals and its attachments.
• The contractor’s name or company name, address, and telephone number.
• The name, address, and telephone number of company representatives with the authority to answer questions or provide clarification regarding the proposal’s contents.
• A list of key personnel to be assigned to perform the services and each person’s qualifications.  Personnel should possess relevant and diverse knowledge and expertise in their respective fields.
• The names of any and all subcontractors expected to perform services in connection with the project and their qualifications.   Include the estimated percentage of work that each subcontractor is expected to perform.  Brunswick County reserves the right to accept or reject any proposed subcontractor.
• A detailed Form of Proposal in substantially the form attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
• A full description of services and processes that will be implemented and ongoing to complete the project in the most efficient, timely and comprehensive manner.  The description should include a detailed implementation plan and project schedule outlining the primary tasks, estimated hours, responsibility, major deliverables, and timing, including an estimated start date.  Additional project deliverables are set forth below.
• Any assistance requirements from Brunswick County.
• A detailed company description and history, including the areas of expertise related to the project.
• A reference list of at least three (3) current projects or projects completed within the past twenty-four (24) months for projects of similar size and scope, including the name and telephone number of a contact person for each reference listed.
• Certificate of Insurance as evidence that contractor meets the County’s Minimum Insurance Requirements attached hereto.
• Proof of active SAM.gov registration
• A plan of contingency capabilities as more fully described above.

Contractors shall provide documentation sufficient to clearly demonstrate that their firm meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposals.  Failure to provide such documentation may result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive.

In addition to the foregoing, Brunswick County reserves the right to request financial information for any contractor, in order to support the viability of the contractor.

Those interested should submit one (1) hard copy of the “Sealed” proposal.  Proposals may be mailed, or hand delivered to the following:

Mail:                           Utilities Operation Center

Attn: Trent Murphy-Biosolids Removal Bid Re-bid

PO Box 249

Bolivia, NC 28422

Hand Delivery:          Utilities Operations Center

Attn: Trent Murphy-Biosolids Removal Bid Re-bid

250 Grey Water Rd.

Supply, NC 28422

Proposals must be received no later than 3:00PM on September 15, 2025.   Brunswick County will not be responsible for the failure of any mail or delivery service to deliver a proposal prior to the stated date and time.  Bids must be in a sealed envelope and must be marked “SEALED BID – Biosolids Removal Re-bid”.   Regardless of the manner of submission, any proposal received after the stated date and time will not be considered. Incomplete proposals or proposals inconsistent with the required format may be disqualified from consideration.

All written correspondence, proposals and supporting documents received by Brunswick County in connection with this Request for Proposals will become the property of Brunswick County.  Brunswick County reserves the right to use any ideas in a proposal or supporting documents regardless of whether the proposal is selected.

Questions or requests for further information regarding this Request for Proposals shall be submitted in writing to the attention of For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. no later than Monday September 8, 2025 3:00PM ET.  A copy of all questions, further clarifications and answers will be made in the form of an Addendum to this Request for Proposals and will be provided to all known contractors and posted on the County’s